Administration

Presdent/CEO – Susi Smith

Susi has served as the leader of Communities In Schools of Greenville for the past 25 years. Prior to joining CIS, she worked for the Piedmont Council for Prevention of Child Abuse (now the Julie Valentine Center) as a case manager for parenting teens and then as a Prevention Specialist. As a business major, Susi began her career with Liberty Life Insurance Company as a Market Analyst and later became involved in non-profit work through volunteering. Susi believes every child needs and deserves an advocate and a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult, both core values of CIS.

Chief Operating Officer – Kimberly Mahaffey

Kim began her career in education more than twenty years ago working for the Office of Student Development at Wingate University. From there she transitioned into teaching elementary school – both private and public – and went on to teach Elementary and Early Childhood Education at South Piedmont Community College where she also doubled as the Professional Development Coordinator under a joint position with the North Carolina Partnership for Children. Kim earned a Master of Education degree from Converse College, a Master’s Certificate in Organizational Change and Leadership from Columbia College, and a Bachelor of Science (Biology) degree from Wingate College. She is an alum of Leadership Greenville Class 36. Kim is serving in her twelfth school year with Communities In Schools of Greenville having previously served as the project director, the Director of Health Initiatives, and the Healthy Connections program coordinator.

Director of Finance & Human Resources – Lisa Hughes

A resident of Greenville County for more than 20 years, Lisa left the corporate world in 2004 and hasn’t looked back. She has been working at Communities In Schools of Greenville since 2006 with the administrative, human resources, and accounting functions of the agency. Lisa holds a BS in History from Washington and Jefferson College. She is constantly inspired by the staff she works and their dedication to the CIS mission. Lisa strives to utilize her skills and abilities to provide CIS with the support it needs to be able to provide programming that creates the greatest possible impact in the lives of students and their families.

Megan, a native of Pennsylvania, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Millersville University where her passion for social justice and service bloomed. Building on that passion, she received her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in administration, policy, and planning. Megan’s work experience includes efforts focused on poverty alleviation, LGBT youth, students with autism, and inclusive performing arts programming for individuals with disabilities. Megan joined CIS committed to strengthening communities and empowering students to become their best selves and has previously served as a site coordinator and a student support coach.

Director of Training & Technical Assistance – Amy Clifton Keely

Amy Clifton Keely has worked for Communities In Schools of Greenville since February 1999. Her past roles have included case manager, site coordinator, and director of afterschool programs.

In 2007, Amy was one of only seven recipients in a network serving more than 2300 schools to earn the National Communities In Schools “Unsung Hero Award”, and in 2008 was selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumna Award at Western Carolina University. Amy graduated from Leadership Greer, Class XXXVI, in 2016 where she was also presented with the President’s Award.

Amy is a third generation graduate of Greer High School and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in English.

Aside from Communities In Schools, Amy’s work experience includes church youth ministry, school district/Title 1 Summer Enrichment Programs, and counseling at a group home for adolescent girls with behavior problems.

Amy also owns and operates Amy Clifton Keely Photography as a wedding, portrait, and corporate photographer across the Carolinas. She and her husband love cooking and trying new restaurants, traveling, live music, and their kitty Pepper.

CISDM Specialist – Susan Carlson

After a brief time working in a lab and teaching ESL in Atlanta, Communities In Schools was Susan’s first “real” job after graduating from Clemson with a degree in Chemistry and Spanish. Now nearly 19 years later, she has worn many CIS hats and still has a passion for the agency’s mission to serve children in Greenville. Once a full time caseworker, Susan shifted gears when her daughters were born and now works part-time on data collection and evaluation, and has previously served under the Strengthening Families Program and other special projects. CIS has grown and changed a lot over the years and Susan continues to be inspired by their commitment to empowering students and their families.